The Warrior’s Mindset: How to Train for the War You’re In

You’re in a war whether you realize it or not.

It’s not bullets and bombs. It’s spiritual, mental, and emotional. And if you’re not training for it, you’re losing by default.

In The Impossible Life Podcast Ep. 155, Garrett and Nick break down what it means to live with a warrior’s mindset. It’s not about being aggressive or militaristic—it’s about being alert, intentional, and battle-ready in every area of life.

“If you don’t see life as a war, you’ll be unprepared for the battles that are coming.” — Garrett

This episode is a wake-up call—and a training manual—for every man who wants to live with strength, clarity, and purpose in a world that would rather see him numb and distracted.

Wake Up: You’re Already on the Battlefield

Most men walk through life asleep—lulled by comfort, distracted by noise, and unaware that the enemy is already advancing.

“If you’re not training, you’re drifting. If you’re not alert, you’re losing.” — Nick

Garrett shares a powerful reference from John Eldredge:

“If you don't live with a sense of war, you’ll live a naïve life. And that’s dangerous.”

The first step to building a warrior’s mindset is awareness.

• You’re in a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12)

• You’re called to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12)

• And your enemy isn’t neutral—he’s strategic

If you treat life like a playground instead of a battleground, you’ll lose ground in every area that matters.

Know the Enemy’s Tactics: Four Strategies That Shipwreck Men

The enemy doesn’t need to destroy you violently. He just needs to disarm you subtly.

Here are four of his most effective strategies:

1. Comfort

Comfort is the modern man's drug of choice. It seduces you into lowering your standards, silencing your urgency, and softening your edge.

“Comfort makes you passive—and passive men get destroyed.” — Garrett

2. Distraction

With endless notifications, noise, and mindless entertainment, distraction robs you of focus—and therefore, purpose.

3. Negativity

A negative mindset makes you a prisoner to circumstances. You stop seeing possibilities and start expecting problems.

“Negativity is not realism—it’s surrender.” — Nick

4. Selfishness (Isolation)

When men isolate, they lose perspective and accountability. And that’s when small compromises turn into major failures.

The solution? Train like it’s war. Because it is.

Train Like a Warrior: Operational Risk Management for Your Soul

In the SEAL Teams, Garrett was trained to assess risks constantly. It’s called Operational Risk Management—evaluating what threats exist and how to mitigate them.

You need to apply the same mindset to your life.

• What are your threats?

• Where are you exposed?

• What systems and disciplines keep you strong?

“Warriors prepare in peace for what others aren’t ready for in crisis.” — Garrett

It’s about more than avoiding failure. It’s about building resilience—the capacity to stand firm when others fold.

Train your mind.
Sharpen your habits.
Strengthen your relationships.
Refuse passivity.

Be a Sheepdog, Not a Sheep

Garrett references Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s analogy of Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs:

• Sheep are passive, unaware, and easy to manipulate

• Wolves prey on the weak

• Sheepdogs stand guard—they’re gentle with the flock but dangerous to the wolf

That’s your role.

“We don’t train for violence—we train for readiness.” — Nick

In 2 Samuel 23, Benaiah kills a lion in a pit on a snowy day. That’s warrior mindset. Not waiting for trouble—but living ready, courageous, and equipped.

And in Romans 12:18, Paul tells us to live at peace as far as it depends on us. That means we pursue peace—but we also stay prepared.

Final Thoughts: You Were Made for This

You don’t need to live paranoid.
But you do need to live prepared.

The warrior’s mindset isn’t about fear—it’s about faithfulness. It’s about recognizing the war around you and responding with intentionality, courage, and clarity.

• Wake up

• Know the enemy

• Train daily

• Stand guard

• Protect what matters

“You were born into a battle. It’s time to start living like it.” — The Impossible Life